The Nation's Pioneering Woman Leader: An Unprecedented Event with Caveats

For many female youth in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural female leader is impactful and influential.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

However, although the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic view.”

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from retaining their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential deductions for families spending on childcare.

Yet she has historically backed the idea of a more traditional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 countries, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

It's also evident by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to sort of identify with her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the same from women as well”.

“They will demand women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.